Minister's remarks rock Parliament, Rajya Sabha paralysed

New Delhi: Controversial remarks by Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on Tuesday rocked Parliament with Rajya Sabha being paralysed for the day as a united opposition insisted on her sacking despite her apology.

Under all round attack from opposition benches, Jyoti said in Rajya Sabha, "If certain words spoken by me outside the House have hurt someone, I take back my words and offer regrets. However, if the House feels so, I am also ready to seek an apology."

In Lok Sabha, she said, "My intention was not to hurt anyone. If my speech outside the House has hurt anyone, I express my deep regrets and accept..."

However, Opposition members stormed into the Well demanding her sacking. "A mere apology will not suffice. She will have to resign," was their refrain.

Soon after both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha met for the day, opposition members created uproar over Jyoti allegedly making communal remarks and using an expletive in an election rally here and demanded that she should be sacked. They also sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Members of Congress, TMC, SP and other opposition parties rushed to the Well leading to repeated adjournments in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha during pre-lunch sitting.

When Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2 PM after four adjournments, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury cited a Supreme Court as well as a Calcutta High Court order to drive home the point that mere apology was not enough and an FIR should be filed against her and she should be sacked. Yechury's argument got instant support from TMC, Congress, SP, JD-U and Left parties.